INDIAN CONSTITUTION- JUDICIARY

One of the unique features of the Indian
Constitution is that, notwithstanding the
adoption of a federal system and existence of
Central Acts and State Acts in their respective
spheres, it has generally provided for a single
integrated system of Courts to administer both
Union and State laws. At the apex of the entire
judicial system, exists the Supreme Court of
India below which are the High Courts in each
State or group of States. Below the High
Courts lies a hierarchy of Subordinate Courts.
Panchayat Courts also function in some States
under various names like Nyaya Panchayat,
Panchayat Adalat, Gram Kachheri, etc. to
decide civil and criminal disputes of petty and
local nature. Different State laws provide for
different kinds of jurisdiction of courts. Each
State is divided into judicial districts presided
over by a District and Sessions Judge, which is
the principal civil court of original jurisdiction
and can try all offences including those
punishable with death. The Sessions Judge is
the highest judicial authority in a district.
Below him, there are Courts of civil
jurisdiction, known in different States as
Munsifs, Sub-Judges, Civil Judges and the like.
Similarly, the criminal judiciary comprises the
Chief Judicial Magistrates and Judicial
Magistrates of First and Second Class.